Dave Rennie refutes ‘brain explosion’ accusation over Luke Jacobson incident as All Blacks boss offers his verdict
Luke Jacobson and the All Blacks flanker's dangerous clearout on Josh van der Flier.
All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has insisted Luke Jacobson’s sin-binning was not a brain fade and that the flanker simply got it wrong “technically”.
The back-rower was sin-binned for his illegal clearout on Josh van der Flier, which saw him connect with the head of the Ireland man with a tucked shoulder.
Jacobson spent the next few minutes fearing that his game might be over as it was reviewed by the Foul Player Review Officer.
Not upgraded
However, perhaps surprisingly, it remained a yellow card as they adjudged that there was mitigation and he was able to return after his stint on the naughty step.
It could have cost the All Blacks, though, with New Zealand seeing a 14-0 lead cut by seven soon after that incident halted a promising attack from the hosts.
Rennie was inevitably asked about Jacobson’s actions in the press conference with suggestions that it had been a “brain explosion” from the Chiefs star.
“It’s not a brain explosion, it’s probably not the greatest decision,” the head coach said. “There’s a threat over the ball and he’s got to try and clean him out, he hasn’t quite got that right.
“It hurt us, we had a penalty, the score was 14-0, so we were in a position to maybe add to that and unfortunately that happened.
“You’ve just got to be technically better in those situations.”
Impressive start under Rennie
Jacobson duly returned to help the All Blacks reassert their dominance and defeat Ireland 40-21 as they went three from three in the Nations Championship.
It followed victories over France and Fiji, leaving Rennie pleased with the progress they have made over the past few weeks.
After opening the campaign by conceding an first minute try to France, they have gradually developed since then.
“You’ve got to put it in context. This is a side that genuinely believed they could win, they came with a lot of confidence, won a series here last time and are a very experienced squad who play a lot of footy together,” Rennie said.
“We’re quite a new group, these guys played a Six Nations a few months ago. We would have taken a one point win but I thought we were pretty clinical when it mattered.
“I just thought all the hard work we’ve been putting in on and off the field, we saw it on the park tonight.”
